U13 Calcio Talent & Select - York City FC

An excellent team performance saw us beat York City FC 3-1, probably the best footballing team we will play this season.

After a cagey start, the Calcio boys realised this wouldn't be the usual walk in the park. York made a change to their typical 5-3-2 formation for this contest and went with a 4 man box in central midfield. This proved difficult to cover for our midfield trio of Lucas, Tom & Jack and led to early chances for the away team. After a frantic first period, Charlie stepped into midfield out of possession to nullify their box midfield, effectively marshaling our midfield trio to ensure everyone was marked. In addition, their best player (and current academy player) was allocated to Jack for a man-for-man marking mission, which he handled marvelously, limiting their star CM to only a handful of chances to carry the ball in midfield. We found the breakthrough during the second period, with a lovely ball from Joel to Logan for a strikers finish. 1-0.

York came out with fire in the third period, again making life difficult for us on the ball. Calcio scored on '56 with a ball from Rory to Logan for his second of the game. They didn't show any signs of giving up, their CB's screaming for York to rally. And that they did, getting one back on '59 with just a hint of offside in their build up...

After an inspiring final team talk with Jacob and Charlie encouraging the boys, we found the level of performance we are capable of in the 4th period, scoring another goal with a simple ball from Tom into Jack with what can only be described as a Ronaldo-esque knuckleball from somewhere back in Otley town centre. Pleasingly, we creating a number of chances in this period which on another day would've resulted in a far more comfortable scoreline and one which would've been well deserved. What a way to shut down any chance of a comeback, continuous combination and attacking play which proved too much for York to handle.

Post-match their Manager came across to congratulate the boys and said we are the best team in the league by a mile. I concur. Well done boys, another step closer to nationals.